Grain News

KSU to Hold Eight Combustible Grain Workshops This Summer Across The Midwest

Date Posted: June 10, 2013

Manhattan, KS—In order to increase safety awareness at grain elevators, feed mills, and other grain processing facilities, Kansas State University’s Department of Grain Science and Industry is offering workshops, in English and in Spanish, to address combustible dust hazards.

The workshops, handouts and lecture materials are offered at no cost to participants.

Workshops will be held at the following locations and offered in conjunction with the Kansas Grain and Feed Association:

•August 13, in Garden City, Kansas at the Southwest Research-Extension Office in conjunction with Kansas Grain and Feed Association. The course in English will be offered from 8 a.m. to noon and the Spanish course will be offered from 1 to 5 p.m.

•August 14, in Colby, KS at the Colby Convention Center from 8 a.m. to noon.

•August 16 in Wichita, KS at the Sedgwick County Extension Office from 1 to 5 p.m.

•August 19 in Salina, KS at the Salina Courtyard Marriott from 1 to 5 p.m.

•August 20 in Sececa, KS at the Nemaha Community Building from 1 to 5 p.m.

The workshop will be offered in Texas, Nebraska and Minnesota on the following dates:

•July 23, a workshop will be held in Mesquite, Texas at the Texas A&M Mesquite Auditorium. The course in English will be offered from 8 a.m. to noon and the Spanish course will be offered from 1 to 5 p.m.

•July 30, in conjunction with the National Grain and Feed Association, a workshop will be held in Omaha, Neb. At the Omaha Hilton from 1 to 5 p.m.

•Sept. 6, in conjunction with the Minnesota Grain and Feed Association, a workshop will be held in St. Cloud, Minn at the Kelly Inn Best Western from 8 a.m. to noon.

“It is important to educate supervisors and managers on training their employees using best practices to curtail the risk of dust explosions,” said Dirk Maier, department head, Grain Science and Industry.

This workshop will communicate practical risk information on dust hazards to mitigate fatalities and loss in grain handling and processing facilities.”

This initiative is being funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Grain dust explosions are caused by five factors: powder-fine grain dust, confinement of dust in an enclosed space, dust dispersion, an ignition source, and oxygen.

Reducing combustible dust, keeping it out of the air and controlling ignition sources significantly reduce the probability of a grain dust explosion occurring.

Through delivery by faculty from K-State, hands-on activities and an explosion demonstration, the four-hour workshop will provide the awareness, understanding and motivation to reduce the number of explosions and their impact.

“The long term goal of this team is to continue this effort of raising awareness about grain dust explosion hazards through training activities,” said Ambrose.